Aberdeen players 'punched in tunnel'

The SFA is prepared to launch an investigation into the aftermath of the Clydesdale Bank Premier League match between Aberdeen and Heart of Midlothian on Saturday following claims from the Pittodrie club that two of their players were punched in a post-match rumpus in the tunnel.

There is also an accusation that a Hearts player kicked and damaged the door of the away dressing-room, for which the Tynecastle club will be sent a repair bill.

Aberdeen will not be making an official complaint, but the SFA could take action if it is mentioned in the match report of Iain Brines, the referee.

The fiery encounter, which was won by a solitary goal from Lee Miller, the Aberdeen striker, brought nine yellow cards from Brines, who also sent off Marius Zaliukas, the Hearts defender, for an alleged headbutt on Miller, and Lee Wallace, the Hearts left-back, for verbally abusing the official after the game.

The bookings of two players - Robbie Neilson, of Hearts, and Chris Maguire, the Aberdeen substitute - came as they clashed on the touchline immediately after the final whistle and yesterday the Pittodrie club alleged that Maguire and Lee Mair, another Aberdeen substitute, had punches thrown at them in the tunnel.

Dave Macdermid, an Aberdeen spokesman, said of that incident: “It would be fair to say it was the Hearts players, rather than the Aberdeen players, who instigated it. There was also damage to the glass panel of the away dressing-room door. It cracked after being kicked by a Hearts player. The repair bill will be sent to Tynecastle.”

The repercussions could be serious for the Gorgie club, already the most indisciplined outfit in the Premier League and, despite the post-match pronouncement from Csaba Laszlo, the Hearts manager, that he would not fine Zaliukas or Wallace for being sent off, the SFA will take a dim view of what happened on Saturday. Hearts said yesterday they were considering an appeal against the red card shown to Zaliukas.

Meanwhile, Jimmy Calderwood, the Aberdeen manager, who was lifted by the result and his side's performance,said he hoped the off-pitch incidents would not detract from a result which hoisted them to within a point of their rivals from Edinburgh.

Taken from timesonline.co.uk